Sign up to receive free email alerts when patent applications with chosen keywords are publishedSIGN UP

Abstract:

An oblong sized printed circuit board (1) comprises light emitting diode
circuitry (2, 3). Parts of the printed circuit board (1) are flexible in
at least one direction, to improve a manufacturing efficiency.
Preferably, the printed circuit board (1) can make curves in length and
width directions and does not require holes for screws. The light
emitting diode circuitry (2, 3) may comprise light emitting diode
circuits (2) with light emitting diodes and other circuitry (3) such as a
driver for driving light emitting diode circuits (2) individually for
providing ambient light for a display (5). A device (100) comprising the
printed circuit board (1) may further comprise the display (5). Such a
device (100) is for example a television receiver/display device/screen
device. The printed circuit board (1) may be attached to structures (61,
62) moveable by hand/machine for directing the ambient light. The device
(100) may be a roll (101) for rolling up the printed circuit board (1).

2. The printed circuit board (1) as claimed in claim 1, the other
circuitry (3) further comprising a memory for storing color information
for at least one of the light emitting diode circuits (2).

3. The printed circuit board (1) as claimed in claim 1, each light
emitting diode circuit (2) comprising one or more light emitting diodes
for providing the ambient light.

4. The printed circuit board (1) as claimed in claim 1, areas of the
printed circuit board (1) covered by the light emitting diode circuitry
(2, 3) being less flexible than the flexible parts, the at least one
direction comprising a first direction and comprising a second direction
different from the first direction, the first direction being a length
direction such that the printed circuit board (1) can make a curve in the
length direction, and the second direction being a width direction such
that the printed circuit board (1) can make a curve in the width
direction.

5. The printed circuit board (1) as claimed in claim 4, the curve in the
length direction allowing the printed circuit board (1) to be rolled up
or to be bended around an edge or a corner, and the curve in the width
direction allowing the printed circuit board (1) to be bended around a
further edge or a further corner.

6. The printed circuit board (1) as claimed in claim 1, the printed
circuit board (1) not comprising any holes for screws.

8. The device (100) as claimed in claim 7, the device (100) further
comprising the display (5), each light emitting diode circuit (2)
comprising one or more light emitting diodes for providing the ambient
light.

9. The device (100) as claimed in claim 7, a first piece (11, 12) of the
printed circuit board (1) being attached to a first plane of a first
device-part and a second piece (13, 14) of the printed circuit board (1)
being attached to a second plane of a second device-part, and the first
and second pieces (11, 12, 13, 14) being separate pieces that are
interconnected via an interconnection (46, 47).

10. The device (100) as claimed in claim 7, a first piece (11, 12) of the
printed circuit board (1) being attached to a first plane of a first
device-part and a second piece (13, 14) of the printed circuit board (1)
being attached to a second plane of a second device-part, the first and
second planes being different planes, and a third piece (15, 16) of the
printed circuit board (1) making a curve to go from one of the first and
second planes to the other one of the first and second planes, the third
piece (15, 16) being an intermediate piece between the first and second
pieces (11, 12, 13, 14).

11. The device (100) as claimed in claim 7, a first piece (21, 22) of the
printed circuit board (1) being attached to a first side of a device-part
and a second piece (23, 24) of the printed circuit board (1) being
attached to a second side of the device-part, the first and second sides
being different sides, and a third piece (25, 26) of the printed circuit
board (1) making a curve to go around an edge or a corner of the
device-part, the third piece (25, 26) being an intermediate piece between
the first and second pieces (21, 22, 23, 24).

12. The device (100) as claimed in claim 7, at least a part (27, 28) of
the printed circuit board (1) being attached to a moveable structure (61,
62) for directing the ambient light.

13. The device (100) as claimed in claim 7, the device (100) not
comprising a reflector for reflecting the ambient light.

14. The device (100) as claimed in claim 7, the device (100) being a roll
(101), and the printed circuit board (1) being rolled up on the roll
(101).

15. A method for providing a device (100) with a printed circuit board
(1) having an oblong size and comprising light emitting diode circuitry
(2, 3), the light emitting diode circuitry (2, 3) comprising light
emitting diode circuits (2) and other circuitry (3), the other circuitry
(3) comprising a driver for driving the light emitting diode circuits (2)
individually for providing ambient light for a display (5), the method
comprising a step of using a flexibility in at least one direction of
parts of the printed circuit board (1).

Description:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to a printed circuit board. The invention
also relates to a device comprising such a printed circuit board, and
further relates to a method.

[0002] Examples of such a printed circuit board are oblong printed circuit
boards. Examples of such a device are consumer products and other kinds
of products.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] WO 2005/088390 discloses a display device including a display and
including an illumination unit for generating main radiation and
subsidiary radiation and including filtering units for filtering the
subsidiary radiation to generate aura radiation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] It is an object of the invention to provide a printed circuit board
for a relatively efficient production process of a device comprising a
light emitting diode circuit for providing ambient light for a display.
Further objects of the invention are to provide a device comprising such
a printed circuit board and to provide a method.

[0005] According to a first aspect of the invention, a printed circuit
board is provided having an oblong size and comprising light emitting
diode circuitry, parts of the printed circuit board being flexible in at
least one direction, the light emitting diode circuitry comprising light
emitting diode circuits and other circuitry, the other circuitry
comprising a driver for driving the light emitting diode circuits
individually for providing ambient light for a display.

[0006] An oblong printed circuit board with light emitting diode circuitry
and with flexible parts will improve an efficiency of a manufacturing
process of a device comprising a light emitting diode circuit for
providing ambient light for a display. The combination of the oblong size
and the flexibility will increase freedom of design, offer more
possibilities, allow larger tolerances and save time during
manufacturing. As a result, the production process of the device
comprising the light emitting diode circuit for providing ambient light
for a display can become more efficient.

[0007] A plane having an oblong size is defined to have a length direction
and a width direction, the length direction being at least ten times
larger than the width direction. A plane having flexible parts implies
that other parts of the plane may be more flexible or just as flexible or
less flexible or not flexible at all.

[0008] A driver mounted on a flexible printed circuit board should be
considered to be a revolution in an ambient light environment. Drivers
have relatively small outputs that need to be connected to relatively
small connections, and these relatively small sizes were, in the past,
considered to be impossible to be located on a flexible printed circuit
board. The driver for example has several respective outputs for driving
several respective light emitting diode circuits individually for a light
output control and/or color control and/or intensity control per
individual light emitting diode circuit.

[0009] According to an embodiment, the printed circuit board is defined by
the other circuitry further comprising a memory for storing color
information for at least one of the light emitting diode circuits. A
combination of the driver and the memory for example allows five light
emitting diode circuits to be controlled individually. Fewer than five or
more than five light emitting diode circuits are not to be excluded.

[0010] According to an embodiment, the printed circuit board is defined by
each light emitting diode circuit comprising one or more light emitting
diodes for providing the ambient light. Each light emitting diode circuit
for example comprises six light emitting diodes. Fewer than six or more
than six light emitting diodes are not to be excluded.

[0011] The other circuitry may for example further comprise one or more
further drivers, one or more further memories, one or more sensors, one
or more connectors, one or more processors etc.

[0012] According to an embodiment, the printed circuit board is defined by
areas of the printed circuit board covered by the light emitting diode
circuitry being less flexible than the flexible parts, the at least one
direction comprising a first direction and comprising a second direction
different from the first direction, the first direction being a length
direction such that the printed circuit board can make a curve in the
length direction, and the second direction being a width direction such
that the printed circuit board can make a curve in the width direction.
An area covered by a circuit is usually less flexible. Flexibility in two
different directions will further increase freedom of design, further
offer more possibilities further allow larger tolerances and further save
time during manufacturing. Making a curve in the length direction implies
that when the length direction forms part of a plane, one side of the
length direction can stay in the plane while, at the same time, the other
side can move out of the plane. Making a curve in the width direction
implies that when the width direction forms part of the plane, one side
of the width direction can stay in the plane while, at the same time, the
other side can move out of the plane.

[0013] According to an embodiment, the printed circuit board is defined by
the curve in the length direction allowing the printed circuit board to
be rolled up or to be bended around an edge or a corner, and the curve in
the width direction allowing the printed circuit board to be bended
around a further edge or a further corner.

[0014] According to an embodiment, the printed circuit board is defined by
the printed circuit board not comprising any holes for screws.
Preferably, the printed circuit board may be attached to a device-part or
to a structure in an adhered manner.

[0015] According to a second aspect of the invention, a device is provided
comprising the printed circuit board as defined above.

[0016] According to an embodiment, the device is defined by the device
further comprising the display, each light emitting diode circuit
comprising one or more light emitting diodes for providing the ambient
light. Such a device is for example a television receiver or a display
device or a screen device.

[0017] According to an embodiment, the device is defined by a first piece
of the printed circuit board being attached to a first plane of a first
device-part and a second piece of the printed circuit board being
attached to a second plane of a second device-part, and the first and
second pieces being separate pieces that are interconnected via an
interconnection. Here, the flexibility is mainly used for easy
attachment.

[0018] According to an embodiment, the device is defined by a first piece
of the printed circuit board being attached to a first plane of a first
device-part and a second piece of the printed circuit board being
attached to a second plane of a second device-part, the first and second
planes being different planes, and a third piece of the printed circuit
board making a curve to go from one of the first and second planes to the
other one of the first and second planes, the third piece being an
intermediate piece between the first and second pieces. Here, the
flexibility is used for easy attachment and is also used for making a
curve between different planes.

[0019] In each case, the first and second device-parts may be the same
device-part or may be different device-parts.

[0020] According to an embodiment, the device is defined by a first piece
of the printed circuit board being attached to a first side of a
device-part and a second piece of the printed circuit board being
attached to a second side of the device-part, the first and second sides
being different sides, and a third piece of the printed circuit board
making a curve to go around an edge or a corner of the device-part, the
third piece being an intermediate piece between the first and second
pieces. Here, the flexibility is used for easy attachment and is also
used for making a curve around a device-part.

[0021] According to an embodiment, the device is defined by at least a
part of the printed circuit board being attached to a moveable structure
for directing the ambient light. The moveable structure may be moved by
hand or by machine. The whole printed circuit board may be attached to
the moveable structure, in which case the flexibility is mainly used for
easy attachment. Or a part of the printed circuit board may be attached
to the moveable structure, and another part of the printed circuit board
may be attached to another moveable or non-moveable structure, in which
case the flexibility is used for easy attachment and is also used for
(flexibly) bridging both structures.

[0022] According to an embodiment, the device is defined by the device not
comprising a reflector for reflecting the ambient light. Preferably, a
reflector for reflecting and guiding the ambient light is to be avoided,
and the flexibility of the printed circuit board is to be used for said
guiding.

[0023] According to an embodiment, the device is defined by the device
being a roll, and the printed circuit board being rolled up on the roll.
Such a roll may comprise up to eight meter (today) or more (in the
future) of printed circuit board.

[0024] According to a third aspect of the invention, a method is provided
for providing a device with a printed circuit board having an oblong size
and comprising light emitting diode circuitry, the light emitting diode
circuitry comprising light emitting diode circuits and other circuitry,
the other circuitry comprising a driver for driving the light emitting
diode circuits individually for providing ambient light for a display,
the method comprising a step of using a flexibility in at least one
direction of parts of the printed circuit board.

[0025] Embodiments of the device and of the method may correspond with the
embodiments of the printed circuit board.

[0026] An insight might be that prior art non-flexible (rigid) printed
circuit boards with light emitting diode circuitry have a maximum length
of 0.46 meter and that television receivers have a width and a height
that are different from and usually not a multiple of 0.46 meter and that
are sometimes more than twice as large.

[0027] A basic idea might be that the printed circuit board should have an
oblong size and should be at least partially flexible in at least one
direction and should comprise light emitting diode circuitry comprising
light emitting diode circuits and a driver for driving the light emitting
diode circuits individually for providing ambient light for a display.

[0028] A problem to provide a printed circuit board for a relatively
efficient production process of a device comprising a light emitting
diode circuit for providing ambient light for a display has been solved.
The combination of the oblong size and the flexibility will increase
freedom of design, offer more possibilities, allow larger tolerances and
save time during manufacturing.

[0029] A further advantage might be that a light emitting diode pitch can
be reduced much (a reduced distance between two neighboring light
emitting diodes will improve the quality of the ambient light owing to
the fact that numbers and/or sizes of hot-spots will be reduced or even
avoided), that instead of one driver (one memory, one sensor) per
non-flexible printed circuit board of at most 0.46 meter, one driver (one
memory, one sensor) per flexible printed circuit board of usually longer
size than 0.46 meter is required, that flexible printed circuit board is
thinner (for example a factor three) than rigid printed circuit board,
and that less connectors may be required (a reduced number of components
will reduce the production costs, large television receivers with
three/four sided ambient light require fourteen/twenty connectors for
interconnecting rigid boards where a use of flexible boards would reduce
these numbers to six, two or even zero connectors).

[0030] These and other aspects of the invention are apparent from and will
be elucidated with reference to the embodiment(s) described hereinafter.

[0047] In the FIG. 1, a roll 101 is shown comprising a flexible printed
circuit board 1 with circuits.

[0048] In the FIG. 2, a flexible printed circuit board 1 is shown
comprising a light emitting diode circuit 2 and other circuitry 3 such as
a driver, a memory, a sensor, a connector, a processor etc.

[0049] In the FIG. 3, a bended flexible printed circuit board 1 is shown
comprising a light emitting diode circuit 2 and other circuitry 3 such as
a driver, a memory, a sensor, a connector, a processor etc.

[0050] The driver for example drives light emitting diode circuits 2
individually for providing ambient light for a display. The memory for
example stores color information for at least one of the light emitting
diode circuits 2. The light emitting diode circuits 2 each comprise one
or more light emitting diodes for providing the ambient light.

[0051] In the FIG. 4, light emitting diode circuits 2 are shown comprising
one or more light emitting diodes that emit in a top direction (left) and
in a side direction (right). The light emitting diode circuits 2 are
located on the flexible printed circuit board 1, which is attached to
metal 4 located at the back of a device 100.

[0052] In the FIG. 5, light emitting diode circuits 2 are shown comprising
one or more light emitting diodes that emit in a side direction (left)
and in a top direction (right). The light emitting diode circuits 2 are
located on the flexible printed circuit board 1, which is attached to
metal 4 located at the (right) side of a device 100.

[0053] In the FIG. 6, a device 100 is shown with two-sided ambient light.
A piece 11 of the printed circuit board is located vertically at a left
side of the device 100, and a piece 12 of the printed circuit board is
located vertically at a right side of the device 100. The pieces 11 and
12 are connected to an interface board 43 via cables 41 and 42. The
interface board 43 is further for example coupled to a video processor 44
and a power supply 45.

[0054] In the FIG. 7, a device 100 is shown with three-sided ambient
light. A first piece 11 (12) of the printed circuit board is attached to
a first plane of a first device-part, vertically at a left (right) side,
and a second piece 13 (14) of the printed circuit board is attached to a
second plane of a second device-part, horizontally at a top. The first
and second pieces 11 and 13 (12 and 14) are separate pieces that are
interconnected via an interconnection 46 (47) such as an interconnecting
board. The pieces 11 and 12 are connected to an interface board 43 via
cables 41 and 42.

[0055] In the FIG. 8, a device 100 is shown with four-sided ambient light.
A first piece 11 (12) of the flexible printed circuit board is attached
to a first plane of a first device-part, vertically at a left (right)
side, and a second piece 13 (14) of the flexible printed circuit board is
attached to a second plane of a second device-part, horizontally at a
top. A third piece 15 (16) of the flexible printed circuit board makes a
curve to go from one of the first and second planes to the other one of
the first and second planes. The third piece 15 (16) is an intermediate
piece between the first and second pieces 11 and 13 (12 and 14).
Similarly, the first piece 11 (12) of the flexible printed circuit board
is attached to the first plane of the first device-part, vertically at a
left (right) side, and a fourth piece 17 (18) of the flexible printed
circuit board is attached to a third plane of a third device-part,
horizontally at a bottom. A fifth piece 19 (20) of the flexible printed
circuit board makes a curve to go from one of the first and third planes
to the other one of the first and third planes. The fifth piece 19 (20)
is an intermediate piece between the first and fourth pieces 11 and 17
(12 and 18). The pieces 17 and 18 are connected directly to an interface
board 43 such that, in this embodiment, cables between pieces and the
board are avoided and interconnections between different pieces are
avoided.

[0056] In the FIG. 9, a first viewer experience is shown for a device 100
with two ambient light sources such as pieces 21 and 22 of the printed
circuit board. The device 100 further comprises a display 5. The piece 21
produces a halo 31 on the wall and the piece 22 produces a halo 32 on the
wall. A viewer 200 at a central position watches the display 5 while at
the same time enjoying a part of the halo 31 (this part being defined by
an angle 51) and enjoying a part of the halo 32 (this part being defined
by an angle 52).

[0057] In the FIG. 10, a second viewer experience is shown for a device
100 with two ambient light sources such as pieces 21 and 22 of the
printed circuit board. The device 100 further comprises a display 5. The
piece 21 produces a halo 31 on the wall and the piece 22 produces a halo
32 on the wall. A viewer 200 sitting too much to the left at a
non-central position watches the display 5 while at the same time
enjoying a (now larger) part of the halo 31 (this part being defined by
an angle 53 that is larger than the angle 51) but not enjoying any part
of the halo 32 (this to the viewer invisible part being defined by an
angle 54 that has a value close to zero and is much smaller than the
angle 52).

[0058] In the FIG. 11, a third viewer experience is shown for a device 100
with four ambient light sources such as pieces 21-24 of the printed
circuit board. The device 100 further comprises a display 5. The piece 21
produces a halo 31 on the (back) wall and the piece 22 produces a halo 32
on the (back) wall and the piece 23 produces a halo 33 of the (left side)
wall and the piece 24 produces a halo 34 on the (right side) wall. The
pieces 23 and 24 further produce light towards a viewer 200. This viewer
200 sitting too much to the left at a non-central position watches the
display 5 while at the same time enjoying a combination of (a part of)
the halo 31 and the halo 33 and light coming directly from the piece 23
(this combination being defined by an angle 55) and enjoying a
combination of the halo 34 and light coming directly from the piece 24
(this combination being defined by an angle 56). So, by having introduced
more ambient light sources, a viewer's position has become less crucial
for being able to enjoy the ambient light.

[0059] In the FIG. 12, a fourth viewer experience is shown for a device
100 with four ambient light sources such as pieces 21-26 of the flexible
printed circuit board. The device 100 further comprises a display 5. A
first piece 21 (22) of the flexible printed circuit board is attached to
a first side of a device-part and a second piece 23 (24) of the flexible
printed circuit board is attached to a second side of the device-part.
The first and second sides are different sides A third piece 25 (26) of
the flexible printed circuit board makes a curve to go around an edge or
a corner of the device-part. This third piece 25 (26) is an intermediate
piece between the first and second pieces 21 and 23 (22 and 24). The
pieces 21 and 23 and 25 produce a halo 35 on the (left side) wall and the
pieces 22 and 24 and 26 produce a halo 36 on the (back) wall. The pieces
23 and 24 further produce light towards a viewer 200. This viewer 200
sitting too much to the left at a non-central position watches the
display 5 while at the same time enjoying a combination of (a part of)
the halo 35 and light coming directly from the piece 23 (this combination
being defined by an angle 57) and enjoying a combination of (a part of)
the halo 36 and light coming directly from the piece 24 (this combination
being defined by an angle 58).

[0060] The angle between the pieces 21 and 23 is different from the angle
between the pieces 22 and 24 and, preferably, these angles can be chosen
and/or adapted. So, the flexible printed circuit board allows these
angles to be chosen differently and/or to be adjusted by hand and/or by
machine as shown in the FIG. 15 to create an optimal viewer experience
while taking into account a position of the device with respect to its
environment and/or while taking into account a configuration of the
environment and/or while taking into account a viewer's position.

[0061] In the FIG. 13, a display 5 is shown with (left) a first prior art
printed circuit board 6 and with (right) a first flexible printed circuit
board 1. The first prior art printed circuit board 6 is rigid and cannot
be bended, the first flexible printed circuit board 1 has been bended to
advantageously better match the relatively thin display 5. Both printed
circuit boards 1 and 6 each comprise a light emitting diode circuit 2.

[0062] In the FIG. 14, a display 5 is shown with (left) a second prior art
printed circuit board 6 and with (right) a second flexible printed
circuit board 1. Compared to the first printed circuit boards shown in
the FIG. 13, in the FIG. 14 each one of the printed circuit boards 1 and
6 comprises two light emitting diode circuits 2 (top emitting). Owing to
the fact that the flexible second printed circuit board 1 has been
bended, ambient light in two directions can be produced, where the prior
art printed circuit board 6 can only produce ambient light in one
direction only (under the assumption that only one and the same kind of
light emitting diode is used, for example only top-emitting diodes or for
example only side emitting diodes).

[0063] In the FIGS. 13 and 14, the flexible printed circuit board 1 may be
bended in a length direction and/or in a width direction. So, the
flexible printed circuit board 1 may comprise one serial string of light
emitting diode circuits 2 in a length direction and/or may comprise for
example a first serial string in a length direction and a second serial
string in a length direction, both serial strings being located next to
each other (in parallel) in a width direction such that when being bended
in the width direction, both strings will produce light in different
directions.

[0064] In the FIG. 15, a display 5 is shown with pieces 27 and 28 of the
flexible printed circuit board attached to moveable structures 61 and 62.
Other kinds of structures are not to be excluded, such as spiral springs
etc. Motors 71 and 72 may operate the structures. Alternatively the
structures may be operated by hand. The pieces 27 and 28 may be moved by
shifting them partly or entirely and/or by rotating them partly or
entirely and/or by changing their shape partly or entirely.

[0065] The flexible printed circuit board can be of a smaller size than
the rigid printed circuit board (reduced width, reduced thickness) and
allows reflectors and connectors to be avoided, which may further reduce
a size of an ambient light system. The flexible printed circuit board
does not need screws for attaching it. As a result, holes for screws in
the printed circuit board are no longer necessary, which allows the light
emitting diode pitch to be reduced, and holes for screws in a metal
carrier or a heat sink are no longer necessary (better heat management).
At a smaller pitch, ultra low power light emitting diodes can be used
instead of high power light emitting diodes (better heat management), so
side emitting light emitting diodes can be used too. At a standard 24
Volt supply voltage, six serially connected light emitting diodes can be
used, without a DC/DC converter being required and without additional
voltages needing to be generated, which reduces a number of interface
lines. One driver having several outputs can drive several (groups of)
light emitting diodes individually for a light output control and/or
color control and/or intensity control per individual (group of) light
emitting diode(s). A serial peripheral interface bus may for example be
used to address different units. This way, "pixelated" ambient light has
been created, whereby a light output and/or a color and/or an intensity
can be controlled via the serial peripheral interface bus per
pixel/layout cell of the ambient light.

[0066] According to a first option, a first roll comprises a first group
of single electrical units, such as a first piece of flexible printed
circuit board with a driver and light emitting diodes followed by a
second, a third and a fourth piece with light emitting diodes only.
According to a second option, a second roll comprises a second group of
single electrical units, such as a first piece of flexible printed
circuit board with a driver and light emitting diodes followed by a
second piece without light emitting diodes such that it can be placed and
bended in a corner, where in this case light emitting diodes are not
required, followed by a third and a fourth piece with light emitting
diodes only. According to a third option, a third roll comprises several
third groups each one being identical to the first or the second group.
According to a fourth option, a fourth roll comprises several fourth
groups at least some of them different from the first, the second and the
third group etc. So, one roll might be produced for one purpose or for
different purposes.

[0067] Summarizing, an oblong sized printed circuit board 1 comprises
light emitting diode circuitry 2, 3. Parts of the printed circuit board 1
are flexible in at least one direction, to improve a manufacturing
efficiency. Preferably, the printed circuit board 1 can make curves in
length and width directions and does not require holes for screws. The
light emitting diode circuitry 2, 3 may comprise light emitting diode
circuits 2 with light emitting diodes and other circuitry 3 such as a
driver for driving light emitting diode circuits 2 individually for
providing ambient light for a display 5. A device 100 comprising the
printed circuit board 1 may further comprise the display 5. Such a device
100 is for example a television receiver/display device/screen device.
The printed circuit board 1 may be attached to structures 61, 62 moveable
by hand/machine for directing the ambient light. The device 100 may be a
roll 101 for rolling up the printed circuit board 1.

[0068] While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in
the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description
are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive; the
invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. For example, it is
possible to operate the invention in an embodiment wherein different
parts of the different disclosed embodiments are combined into a new
embodiment.

[0069] Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and
effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention,
from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In
the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or
steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a
plurality. A single processor or other unit may fulfill the functions of
several items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures
are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that
a combination of these measured cannot be used to advantage. A computer
program may be stored/distributed on a suitable medium, such as an
optical storage medium or a solid-state medium supplied together with or
as part of other hardware, but may also be distributed in other forms,
such as via the Internet or other wired or wireless telecommunication
systems. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as
limiting the scope.